The institute of“Religious Iconoclasm “ in Kashmir started by Hindu king Harsa : Iconoclasm is a social belief in the importance of the destruction of religious Idols or monuments .Although breaking Religious Sacred idols of Naga, Buddhist and Hindu deities happened before as well but Hindu king ” Harsa” who ruled Kashmir from 1089 -1111 AC , institutionalised this doctrine of Iconoclasm at official Level. Before we proceed to explore the “Religious Iconoclasm “ we must know about the issue that iconoclasm was existing in Kashmir around before 983- 1023 BC Christian Era (BCE) that is almost 1600 years before Prophet Muhammad Alihimusalam was born and Islam was re-introduced in Arab after Kanaan. I would like to bring few iconoclasts so as to clear the fact that iconoclasm was present there in Kashmir almost 2000 years before Harsa.
1) NARA -I ,THE WICKED ICONOCLAST : Nara-I ruled the Kashmir from 983- 1023 BC and Buddhism was introduced by King Surrendra ,the first Buddhist ruler around 1674-1596 BCE .
According to great leader of Kashmiri Pandits , Pandit Jailalkilam ,A history of Kashmiri Pandits,pp.7 ,’’During the reign of Nara-I ,’’thousands of Buddhist monasteries were burnt ,a thousand of villages that supported these Buddhist monasteries were given to Brahmins. “Brahmans having succeeded in establishing their supremacy set themselves in strengthening themselves and their position.Thought and culture was denied to everybody except Brahmans and the modern Hinduism in Kashmir begin its growth .’’
According to Rajtarangini, ,Book 1 ,p..15 , ‘’ Nara burnt thousands of monasteries ,and gave to the Brahmanas ,who dwelt at Madhyamata,the villages that supported those monasteries
Samuel Beal, The life of Hiuen-Tsiang ,1969,pp.171-172 , ‘’ Hiuen-Tsiang states that Mihirakula ,a devotee of Shiva ,destroyed 1600 stupas and monasteries and killed thousands of Buddhist monks and laity.
2) JALUKA :- According to pioneer of Kashmir history ,A History of Kashmir by Pandit Prithvi Nath Kaul Bamzai ,pp.65 onward, states that Jaluka was a popular hero and ardent devotee of Siva(Shaivism).
According to Rajtarangni ,vol1,pp 112,vol 1,pp.140-144,Jaluka was as the “Vanquisher of the buddhist”.Furthermore it records ,Jaluka persecuted the Buddhist and destroying their Viharas and stupas. by Pandit Prithvi Nath Kaul Bamzai ,pp.65 ,Jaluka once destroyed the temple of Buddhist on account of the noise made by the worshippers reciting the Buddhist hymns which has disturbed his sleep .
Jaluka was hostile towards Buddhism and devoted to the worship of Hindu God Shiva,(Smith,Vincent A.The Early history of India.Oxford University.p.180)
3) ABHIMANYU-I ,the Iconoclast (178 AD) : Abhimanyu-I who succeeded Jushka ,is interesting as showing a distinctly anti Buddhist drive in progress during his reign says Kalhana: ‘’ At the time there manifested some miraculous power through which the Brahmans ,who offered oblation and sacrifices, escaped destruction ,while Baudhas perished ‘’.(Rajtarangini, vol 1 ,181).
Abhimnyu is credited with having founded a town named Abhimanyapur (which is modern Bemina-Qamerwari) where he set up a temple dedicated to the worship of Shiva (A History of Kashmir by Pandit Prithvi Nath Kaul Bamzai , pp.72)
4)MIHIRAKULA ,THE ICONOCLAST (6TH CENTURY): He was one of the important Hindu rulers of the Alchon Huns flourished 6th century CE.. According to book ,A History of Kashmir by Pandit Prithvi Nath Kaul Bamzai , pp.74 ,75. ‘’After defeated by Baladitya of Maghdha ,Mihirakula sought safety in Kashmir and soon seized the throne of Kashmir.’’
Mihirakula issued coins which had emblems of bull and trident, like the Kushana era showing Shiva,which suggest that he may also have patronized Shaivism.
He is credited with building Mihiresvara (Shrine of Shiva) near Srinagar .Mihirakula bought Brahmins from Gandhara and bestowed them a thousand Agraharams at Bijbehara
According to Krishna Chandra Sagar, Foreign Influence on ancient India p.216 ,’’Mihirakula destroyed Buddhist sites and ruined monasteries .
According to Samuel Beal, The life of Hiuen-Tsiang ,1969,pp.171-172 , ‘’ Hiuen-Tsiang states that Mihirakula ,a devotee of Shiva ,destroyed 1600 stupas and monasteries and killed thousands of Buddhist monks and laity.
Mihirakulas entrusted the Kayasthas with enormous power to fleece the people .
5)VAJRADITYA, the temple looter (760 CE onwards) : Vajraditya (Bappiyaka) was youngest son of Lalityaditya,he looted the wealth and costly article of temples in Parihaspora Pattan .(Bamzai pp.118)
6)Samkaravarman ,the iconoclast ( 885-902 CE) : Samkaravaravarman was Vaishnavite hindu ,who ruled Kashmir for 17 years .He was son of Awantivarman and is credited to have found a town Samkarapur (Modern Pattan) .Pandit Prithvi Nath Kaul Bamzai , pp.126,’’As many as 64 temples were plundered by him’’
Anthony Kennedy Wardner ,Indian Kavya literature : The bold style (Saktibhadra to Dhanapala ) chapter XLI,3329 ,’’ Samkaravarman stole the property of the gods (i.e of their temples to replenish the treasury depleted by his vices(v.166) and robbed 69 temples.’’
7) PARVAGUPTA ,the Iconoclast (949-950 CE) : According to authority book on Kashmir History , A History of Kashmir by Pandit Prithvi Nath Kaul Bamzai ,pp.133-133 Parvaguptaburnt down the famous Buddhist Vihara of Kashmir namely ‘’Jayaendra-Vihara’’.He plundered the Vihara using molten brass of Buddha image to built his own temple named Kshemagauresa .
8)KSEMAGUPTA,ruler of Kashmir (950-958) : He was son of Parvagupt ,Rajtarangini,Vol 1 ,171-173 recorded evidences of Buddhist in Kashmir in the reign of Ksemagupta.
9) KALASA ,the tormentor of Martand Temple(1063-1089 CE) :Kalasa ,father of Harsa not only set on fire the famous Vijayyeshwara temple but at the approach of his death Kalasa set out great torment to the temple of Martand .( A History of Kashmir by Pandit Prithvi Nath Kaul Bamzai , pp.140)
10) HARSA , the Father of Iconoclasm (1089-1101) : He was Hindu ruler of Kashmir and belonged to Utpala dynasty. Kalhana father Champaka was a patron of shiavites and minister of Harsa .He used to melt only gold and silver of religious deities only and spare rest of the idols made of stones, the particular pattern iconoclasm fail the logic and destroy the fallacy of those who try to say that Harsa broke idols at the behest of advices from his Tirukshasoliders .Had it been Tiruksha soldiers who destroyed idols why they spare idols made up of stones moreover even Harsha’s father didn’t spare to torment the Martand temple for political reason.
Ministry of idol breaking and finance :- Along with the other ministry administered by patron of Shaivites ‘’Champaka’’ ,Harsa is credited with creating a’’ ministry of idol breaking for gold and silver only’’ administered by other minster of his kingdom , the office of this ministry was named ‘’DEVOPATAANA-NAYAKA’’ .
Reason for Harsa iconoclasm :- Harsa’s iconoclastic feature was not because of any religion but because of his extravagant life style and pleasure .Kalhana states that he was annoyed at the scanty allowance by his miserly father Kalasa .So he even conspired against his own father such was a character of Harsa.Heursurped the throne after killing his own father in 1089.
According to Pandit Prithvi Nath Kaul Bamzai , pp.143,’ Kalhana mentioned even night soil was taxed under his rule . Extravagant expenditure on his troops and senseless pleasure involved him in grave financial difficulties .His accidental discovery of hoarded treasures at the Bhimasahi, induces him to spoilage other temple and he started melting gold and silver images of god and goddess’’
11) ABHIMANYU II ,The iconoclast :- He set his capital on fire and destroyed all nobles building from the temple of Vardana swami to as far as Bhikshukiparaka (stein,Kalhana’sRajtarangini,vol 1 ,verse 190-191)
So its cleared beyond doubt after having a look at his iconoclast lineage, extravagant upbringing that his only motto behind his iconoclasm way greed for money.
Sultan Sikinder exonerated: Sustained 29 years of propaganda and malice have maligned many great personalities of Kashmir and Sultan Sikinder (1389-1413) happened to be one among them .The propaganda started by a Sanskrit Versifier of his time,handed over by chroniclers and now glamorized by commercial fidayeen media and its Kashmiri islamophobe hate preachers till date .Sultan Sikinder has been accused of destruction of temples and persecution of hindu subjects
Recently Jammu and Kashmir Police register case against Pandit Ashok Koul in police station Kothibagh Srinagar vide FIR number 44l2016,under 505 b(2)IPC for spreading false information about killing two hindu pandits and burning of many hindu houses .The hate preacher was taken is yet to be sued because of royal patronage .
Before Igo forward I would like to quote Pandit Shri Kanth Koul ,Jonaraja’s Rajtarigini, pp.93,’’
‘’He put an end to many oppressive taxes and quelled revolts following which a period of peace ensued.’’
Although the worst iconoclast came from hindu community but condemnation seems to unequivocally muslims only.
- A) Jayapira (764-950 ): He caused 99 Brahmans seek death in water by drowning after confiscating their land at Tullmulla (Stein, Kalhana’s Rajtarangini ,Vol 1 ,verse 638)
- A) Rama Deva : According to Pandit Jai Lalkilam ,History of Kashmiri Pandits,pp.20 . Let me quote him word to word ‘’ During the reign of Ramadeva (1252-1273) Some Bhattas (Brahmans) who helped in his in-vesture as king ,having being insulted by him,conspired to install somebody from among Khasas on the throne of Kashmir .But their conspiracy did not long remain a secret and an orgy destruction and plunder was let loose upon them. Some of them were killed and others suppressed with atrocious mercilessness and to save themselves the cry was raised everywhere ‘NA BATOHAM’ ,’’I AM NOT A BHATA’’ .This is first onslaught recorded in history against Brahmins of Kashmir’’.Let me share few more plunderer and iconoclast
Sultan SIkinder was singled out by Joraraja ,his treaties made him look like a villain and he accused Sikinder for persecution and forcible conversion although he himself was courtier of his father Zainulabideen Budshah.The accusation was taken up and magnified by successive Brahman chroniclers by propagating without checking from contemporary resources .
Jonaraja was a staunch Brahman who considered his caste as ‘’ Prps of the Universe ‘’ ( Kouls, Jonaraja’s Rajtarangini,37). Jonaraja was an islamophobe and already failed the test of being an unbiased historian when he completely ignored to mention many revolutionary figures Mir syed Ali Hamdanis arrival or his colossal works in Kashmir , Sheikh Noor-Ud-Din who lived in his times is not mentioned in his work, Laleshwari who represent Kashmir cultural milieu too was missed out by him. He doesn’t mention the word Muslim in narrative .He is not even ready to believe that a muslim ruler can be saviour due his islamophobe traits when he writes about Shahmir , Strange that believer in Allah became saviour of his people (Kouls, Jonaraja’s Rajtarangini,26).His scorn for Islam can be viewed when describes conversion of harassed local population as ‘’ Polluting the caste of the people (Kouls, Jonaraja’s Rajtarangini,97).
He is accused of destroying temples where historically none existed. Propagandists alleged him of demolishing KliShrimandir and built Khanqah-e-Moula on its site but none among them including Kalhana ,Jonaraja, Srivara, Shukbhatt ,failed to made any reference to the existence of any temple by this name in their works . Pandit Premnath Bazaz states ,’’ Hindu historians exaggerated his atrocities beyond limit and give fullest liberty to their imagination (Bazaz,The history of struggle for in Kashmir ,555.).Some historian even alleged that Sikinder used gun powder in the destruction of temples when gun powder was not even known, not to speak of its use .
Pandit Sri Kanthkoul , the translator of Jonaraja’s Rajtarangni ,alludes to contextual contradication, interpolation, recession and insertion in the text of the narrative.(Kouls, Jonaraja’s Rajtarangini,18).
Stien is compelled by the historical facts that ‘’ISLAM MADE ITS WAY INTO KASHMIR NOT BY FORCIBLE CONQUEST BUT BY GRADUAL CONVERSION FOR WHICH MUSLIM ADVENTURERS HAD PREAPARED THE GROUND’’(Stein, Kalhana’s Rajtarangini ,vol 1 ,verse 130)
Dr. Eshraf Zainulabideen can be reached at zainlala69@gmail.com
